Dictionary > Melon

Melon

melon
1. (Science: botany) The juicy fruit of certain cucurbitaceous plants, as the muskmelon, watermelon, and citron melon; also, the plant that produces the fruit.
2. (Science: zoology) A large, ornamental, marine, univalve shell of the genus Melo. Melon beetle A genus of cactaceous plants (Melocactus) having a fleshy and usually globose stem with the surface divided into spiny longitudinal ridges, and bearing at the top a prickly and woolly crown in which the small pink flowers are half concealed. M. Communis, from the west Indies, is often cultivated, and sometimes called Turk’s cap. The related genus mamillaria, in which the stem is tubercled rather than ribbed, and the flowers sometimes large.
Origin: F, fr. L. Melo, for melopepo an apple-shaped melon, Gr.; apple – a species of large melon; cf. L. Malum apple. Cf. Marmalade.


You will also like...

Schematic diagram of bacterial lactose operon
Gene Action – Operon Hypothesis

Learn how the way genes control and determine every aspect of the body. This lesson uses lac operon as an example. ..

..

vitamins
A Balanced Vitamin Diet – Vitamins A – K

A balanced diet is essential to a healthy organism. Insufficiency or too much of a particular element or compound, such ..

3D rendering of an antibody
Passive and Active Types of Immunity

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell capable of producing a specific immune response to unique antigens. In thi..

DNA - schematic
Genetic Mutations

This tutorial looks at the mutation at the gene level and the harm it may bring. Learn about single nucleotide polymorph..

Cambial cells
Plant Tissues

Plant organs are comprised of tissues working together for a common function. The different types of plant tissues are m..

Salmon jumping upstream in the river
Lotic Communities & Animals

A running water environment offers numerous microhabitats for many types of animals. Similar to plants, animals in lotic..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics